Animatable toy



Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES hATENT OFFICE ANIMATABLE TOY Jacques Martial, Great Neck; and Lincoln L.

Ciampa NewYork, N. Y., assignors to-United States Electric Mfg. COIIL', New York,. ,Y-., a corporation of New York Application December 19, 1951, Serial No. 262,383

13 Claims.

This invention relates to animatable toys.

' It is anobject ofrth'epresent invention to provide. a device-ofv the character described which is attractive. and interesting .to. children.

It isanother object of the present invention to provide a device of the character described which has a-novel mechanism whereby a sound will be produced; an appendage move and a: portion of thetoy. light up when the toy is actuated by a wearer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an animatable. toy of thecharacter described which is of simple and light construction;

It is another object of the present invention top-rovide an animatable toy of the character described which. is easily and inexpensively manufactured.v

It is another-object of the present invention to provide an animatable toy of the character describedlwhich is simply operated.

Itv is another-object ofthe present invention to provide an animatable toy of the character described which is rugged so that it will stand up under rough use from children.

Other objectsof the invention will in part be obvious and in part will. bepointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features ofconstruction, combinations of elements andarrangements of. parts. which will be exemplified in the devices hereinafter described and of which the scope of application. will be indicated inthe appended claims.

In the accompanyin drawings in which. is, shown one of "the various possible embodiments of my invention,-

Fig.1 is a front View of an animatable toy constructed in accordance with the present invention';

Fig. 2 isa'side view of said toy;

Fig. 3 is aback view-of-thetoy;

Fig. 4 isa sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--40f Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is-a-sectional'view taken substantially alongthe line 5'-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig.-- 6 is a sectional view'taken substantially along the'line' 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 isafragmentary sectional view taken substantially along'the line -'11 of Fi .4; and

Figr-S is a fragmentary ,rear perspective view of the lapel: pin.

Referring now in detailto the drawings. the reference numeral It "denotes an illuminatable ammatabi-e-toyembodying the invention.-

The toy-ishollow'and comprises acarri'er; e. g. a rearing horse l2,'on which is seated a, rider, e. g. a cowboy l4, appropriately garbed in western attire;

The toy includes a casing is having a front half is and a back ha1f'2 9'. Thefront half constitutes a front wall 22'fashioned into-the shape of a horse having one foreleg 24, a'figurine of a cowboy being seated onthe'horse. The casing includes no rear leg for the horse and no visible arm for the cowboy; The front halfof the casing has aperipheral flange 26' extending backwardly so that said front half'constitutes a shell in which the working elementsof the toy can be disposed. The

' back half of the casing constitutes a rear cover for the toy and matches the contour of the rim 260i the peripheralflange- Openings 30 for eyes are provided in the head 32 of the cowboy, and eyes 34 are disposed within the head; A'slot 36 is fashioned in the horses head between the ears and eyes. Said slot slants upwardly away fromthe rider; Acircular hole 38 is formed in the figurine of therider atthe shoulder 40. An arm 42 is provided having a hollow tube 44 adapted to rotatably fit in the hole in the casing; Said arm" carries a simulated gun 46 formed integrally with the hand 453. When the toy is not being operated, the gun lies below the slot in: the horses' head. Said gun is so disposed thatiwhen the armi-is raised to its highest position the gun. will li'e in line with the slot; optionally it may overlap the slot partially.

A hole 501s provided in the bottom of the pe ripheral flangeat theh'orses hip 52 for receiving the visible rear leg 54 of the horse.

The casing is fabricated from some light material' such as sheet metal or plastic.

Pursuant to the present invention when the horses rear leg is pushed upwardly the cowboys eyes will roll, his arm will rise until the gun is in line with the slot, at the moment the gun is in line with the slot alight will shine through the slot so that it appears that the gun has fired, and at the same time a click will emanate-from the pin sothat the illusion of agunhaving'firedis complete.

Turning now to the mechanism by which the above-described operation is effected, the mova-ble rear leg of the horse is integral with an L-shaped actuator 56 disposed inside the casing, said actuator being attached to the proximal end 53 of the leg at the lower surface 60 of the short bartz of the L. The actuator is movable between -a rest position and a; fully operative. po-

"-'sition-.- The long bar' fi l-of' the L is disposed adjacent an inner wall 66 of the peripheral flange, and the short bar lies athwart the lower end of the casing. The wall 68 adjacent which the long bar of the L is disposed is the part of the flange 26 which forms the top of the horse behind and under the rider. The wall I opposite which the long bar of the actuator is disposed forms the undersuri ace of the horse.

Riblike guides I2, I4, I6 for a battery I8 and for the actuator are provided on the inner surface of the front half of the casing. The bottom end 80 of the battery rests on the top surface 82 of the short bar of the actuator, and said battery extends along part of the hollow cylinder 84 formed by the inner wall of the portion 86 of the front half of the casing forming the horses body. The rear cover of the casing and the aforementioned guides for the battery hold the battery snugly in place preventing front and back movement of the same. The long 18g of the actuator and the guides snugly hold the battery against sidewise movement. Thus, the battery is guided for up and down motion.

The guide 16 for the actuator is located in the wall 68 adjacent which the long leg of the actuator is disposed and comprises 'a step 90 on which the front edge of said leg rests and also includes a portion 92 set back from the step and extending rearwardly from the same. The side of the long leg of the actuator is disposed against said portion. The actuator is constrained against front and back movement by said step, the slot for the leg, and the back cover part of the casing. The actuator is constrained against lateral movement by the battery and rearwardly extending portion of the actuator guide, and also by the slot for the leg. Accordingly, th actuator is guided for up and down movement in the casing.

Above the top of the battery another guide 94 is located, said guide being adapted to receive the shank 96 of a flashlight bulb 98. The bulb is screwed into one end of an electrically conductive compression sprin I00 the other end of which is fitted about the top I02 of an uninsulated battery cup. The top I04 of the bulb envelope abuts the top inner surface I06 of the peripheral flange of the front half of the casing. The rear cover and the bulb guide hold the bulb firmly in place. bottom of the bulb shank have aligned central terminals I08, IIO. When the actuator is at rest, these terminals are out of contact. When the actuator is moved upwardly, it will raise the battery until the central terminals come into contact and the bulb lights, this being the fully operative position of the actuator. When the actuator is released, the compression spring separates the central terminals, thereby breaking the contact. The spring forces'the' actuator into its res-t position in which it contacts the lower end of the casing. Separate means, however, may be provided as described below to return the actuator and battery to rest position.

Near the top of the long bar of the actuator two projections H2, H4 are provided extending away from the cavity of the horses body. These two projections form a groove I I6; The tube on the movable arm of the rider has two longitudinal slots H8, I20. When the arm is in rest position, one of said slots II8 faces the groove in the actuator.

Means is provided to transform the linear motion of the actuator into rotary motion of the tube and thus of the arm. Said means com- The top of the battery and the ii i) prises a pintle I22 having a, fiat thin tongue I 24 extending radially therefrom and terminating short of the ends thereof. The pintle fits into the bore I26 of the tube and is permanently secured therein, e. g. by adhesive, with the tongue extending through the slot. The distal end I28 of the tongue fits into the groove in the actuator, and thus when the actuator is raised the pintle is rotated and with it the arm. Since the tongue overlies the hole in which the tube is rotatable and since the tongue is permanently secured in the tube, the tongue prevents the tube and thus the arm from being pulled out of the casing. The rear end of the pintle is journalled in a hole I60 in the rear cover.

The arm is so oriented with respect to the slot that when the former has been rotated to the position it occupies when the actuator has been moved to its fully operative position, the arm is so disposed with respect to the slot in the horses head that the gun is in line with said slot.

The riders eyes are disposed on a plate I32 secured to the front edge of an arm I34 integral with a pin I36. Said pin has a tongue I31 similar to that of the pintle. Means is provided in the front part of the casing upon the inner surface thereof and in the riders head to rotatably receive the front end of said pin whereby rotation of the pin will swing the eyes into and out of registry with the eye-openings. Said means constitutes a cup-shaped boss I38. The tongue of said pin fits into the second slot I20 in the tube. Thus, when the actuator is moved and the tube rotated, the tongue will also be rotated whereby the plate carrying the eyes will move and the illusion of the eyes rolling will be imparted to the figurine. The rear cover of the casing has a hole I39 rotatably receiving the rear end of the pin when the cover is put on.

Depending upon the position of the second slot in the tube and the position of the eyes on the plate connected to the pin, said eyes will either be out of sight when the actuator is at rest and come into sight when the actuator is being operated or will start in sight and be rolled out of sight or will be partially in sight all of the time and merely roll when the actuator is moved between its two positions.

To supply a click simulating the noise of the gun, a leaf spring I40 with a depression I 42 is provided. A rearwardly extending abutment I44 is located in the riders head, and the spring is fitted between the abutment and the peripheral flange. In order to fit the spring in place it must be slightly bent, and the force of the spring trying to return to unstressed position will press the portions of the spring on each side of the abutment against the inner wall of the peripheral flange of the front half of the casing, thus holding the sprin in place. One end of the spring extends over the top of the long bar of the actuator. When the actuator is moved upwardly as far as it will go, the spring is distorted and the depression will turn inside out with a clicking sound. Said depression is disposed between the abutment and the actuator. The spring may be shaped so that the end of the spring which abuts the actuator when the same is operated will abut the actuator when the latter is at rest. The leaf spring will then be stressed as soon as the actuator ismoved, and thus the former will serve to return the actuator to rest position when the actuator is released, and gravity will draw the battery down with the ever, will, move. throughout. the. upward.,move-- mentiof' the actuator and williaiso. mover-when the actuatorreturns; to its-.rest: position. Thus. the. eyes -will have. rolled:;b.efore the-.clickland hash of 'light,1 and the weapon; willareachfiring position :levelwiththe slotzasf the;- click. and:

In; several; corners of theazback; edgeot 171184 1118.- ripheral. flange in. theisfrontihalt'z ofgthe; casing platforms I453 are-provided:re'cessed .LfrOntWardlyfrom said. edge. these The rear coveriu is-inutwo. sections 146.; I48. Section I46 covers the back of the horse, and section 148 covers the backrof' the rider. The

sections fit against. each other 'edgewisasection HHS being providedwith: astep' 150 on' the side edge. ofthe front surface thereof. Section hi8 has-a matching step I52 ontheside-edge of its rearsurface. Thesection B'Wlll aid in holding section mainpl'ace when the former is in place onthe front half of the casing-because the step of section MG'overliesthatof section I48.

Two projections I54 extend rearwardly from the front half ofthe casing, said projections having inwardly extending' portions 156. Under each portion a transverse: groove 158 is formed.

A pin 160' is provided having-a base portion I62" adapted to lie flatacross .both' sect-ionsof the rear cover. The base of'the-pin-is about as'iong as the distance'between the projections. Integral with tho-base are two rearwardly extending reaches I64, said reaches extending further rearwardly than the front-*surface-of'the grooves of the porti0ns-l56. Then the reaches extend-towards-each-other a -di-stance' less than the lengthof portions I56. E'achreach has-an arm- 36 extending sidewise and f'rictionally fitting a groove-I58. One-arm terminatesin an openloop I68. The other arm" terminates -in a springbar extending towards the loop and I set forth, it is to be'understood. that all matter i herein: clescribed, or shown. the accompanying drawings, is :tobeinterpretedas illustrative and notina.limitingsensea,

Having, thus described. the imlention, there: is

claimed as new'andtdesired to. bersecured by L'et-.

ters Patent:

1. An animatable. toy comprising,-a: hollow opaque object constituting, a..figurine of. a rider on. a carrier, an appendage for said .figurine,

Thev rear cover". rests: upon 1 me nsto mou t idppenda eomsaid-fi urin nrss.

for.rmovcm ti tw nza;restpcsitiomandzsan ouerativeposition,- a simulated weapo rr-.;carriedxby said appendage; means to produceva; noise associated: with. the weapon; light-producingmeans interiorly -of said object, said last-named :means including :an opening in the object, said opening being; located. at the point onzthe object which the weapon. is adjacentwhen the appendage-is in. operative.- position, a mechanism for. the -toy,

saidmechanism, including meansto'; move the appendage. and; thus theweapon from its: rest. to its operative. position, .means. tov actuate the noiseproducing means when the appendageis ingits operative position, and meanstovoperate the light-producing means when. thev appendage is 1111 1125; operative position, I the various means of the. mechanism functioning, in conjunction .with each other-, means to operate: the. mechani sm from. the ou s e. .o h toy, and. means: to ,re-

.turn it toits inoperative position.

2-; An, animata ley, omp isin z a hollo opaque object-constituting a figurine of aridenon azcarrienan appendage for said figurinameans to mount said appendage on said figurine forsimove- ,ment between a rest position and anoperative position,- a simulated. Weapon carried by said appendage, nieansto produce anoiseassociated with the weapon, light-producing means interior-1y of said object, said last-named means, including. an opening in the object, saidopening being-located at the point on the objectiwhich the effective end of the weapon is adj acentwhen the appendage is inoperative position-,. amechanism for the toy,.said mechanism-including means to move the appendage and thus the weapon from its rest tov its operative position, means toactuate the noise-producing means when the appendage is'in its-operative position, and means to operate the light-producing means.when the appendage is in its operative position, the various means of the mechanism functioning in conjunction .with each other, means to operate a the. mechanism from. the outsideof the toy, and means to return it to its. inoperative position.

3.. An. animatabletoy comprising a hollow opaque object constituting a figurine ofa rider on a carrier, an appendage for said figurine, meansto mount said appendage on saidfigurine for movement between a rest position and; an operative position, a simulated weapon carried by said appendage, eyes in the headof the rider, means to mount said eyes for movement in said head, means to produce av noise associated with the. Weapon, light-producing means. interiorly of said object, saidlast-named means including an opening in the object, said opening being located at the point on the object which the. weapon, is adjacent when the appendage is in operative position, amechanism for the toy, said mechanism including means to move the-appendage and thus the weapon from its rest to itsoperative position, means to move said eye-mounting means, means to actuate the noise-producing meanswhenthe appendage is in, its operative position, andmeans to operate the light producing means when the appendage is initsoperative position; the various means .of the-mechanism functioning in conjunction with each other, means to operate the mechanism from:;the'- out- ,side ,of; the;toy,v and meansto. returmittoits inoperative'position.

4; An. animatable toy: comprising: a hollow opaque obj ect. constituting, a figurine of: a rider onpahcarrier, an appendage for said. figurine, meanstotmount said appendage. .onasaid figurine for-movement between a rest position and an opciated with the weapon, a mechanism for the toy, said mechanism including means to move the appendage and thus the weapon from its rest to its operative position, and means to actuate the noise-producing means when the appendage is in its operative position, the various means of the mechanism functioning in conjunction with each other, means to operate the mechanism from the outside of the toy, and means to return it to its inoperative position.

5. An animatable toy comprising a hollow opaque object constituting a figurine of a rider on a carrier, an appendage for said figurine, means to mount said appendage on said figurine for movement between a rest position and an operative position a simulated weapon carried by said appendage, light-producing means interiorly of said object, said last-named means including an opening in the object, said opening being located at the point on the object which the effective end of the weapon is adjacent when the appendage is in operative position, a mechanism for the toy, said mechanism including means to move the appendage and thus the weapon from its rest to its operative position, and means to operate the light-producing means when the appendage is in its operative position, the various means of the mechanism functioning in conjunction with each other, means to operate the 'mechanism from the outside of the toy, and

means to return it to its inoperative position.

'6. A toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting means for the appendage constitutes a hollow tube on the appendage and a shoulder opening in the figurine rotatably receiving the tube, said tube having a slot parallel to its longitudinal axis, and wherein the means to move the appendage constitutes an actuator translatable between two positions, a pintle, and a tongue integral with said pintle, said actuator having a slot to receive said tongue, said pintle being permanently secured in the hollow of said tube, and

said tongue extending through the slot of said tube and over the inside of the figure, whereby linear movement of the actuator is transformed into rotary movement of the tube.

7. A toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein the noise-producing means constitutes a leaf spring secured at one end to the object, said spring having a depression therein intermediate its ends,

and wherein the means to actuate the noise-pro- -'ducing means comprises an actuator movable between a fully operative and a rest position, the

I free end of said spring being in the path of travel of the actuator, whereby motion of the actuator to its fully operative position will flex the spring,

the spring and location of the actuator being adjusted so that the depression will turn inside out when the actuator is at its fully operative position.

8. A toy as set forth in claim 1' wherein the light-producing means includes a cell having a side terminal and at its front a center terminal, a lamp having a side terminal and at its rear a center terminal, and a conductive coil spring electrically and physicall connecting the side terminal of said cell to the side terminal of said lamp, the center terminal of the cell being out of contact with the center terminal of said lamp in the inoperative position of the toy, and wherein the means to operate the light-producing means constitutes an actuator movable between 'a fully operative and a rest position, said actuator having a seat on which the rear of the battery cell is disposed, and a stop for the top of the light bulb, said center terminals contacting each other when the actuator is in its fully operative position and the coil spring compressed.

9. An animatable toy comprising a hollow opaque object constituting a figurine of a rider on a carrier, an appendage for said figurine, means to mount said appendage on said figurine for movement between a rest position and an operative position, a simulated weapon carried by said appendage, and means to move the appendage and thus the weapon from its rest to its operative position, said last-named means comprising a projection on said appendage, an opening in said figurine rotatably receiving said projection, an element on said projection, said element being disposed within the figurine, and means to move said element, said moving means constituting a part of the carrier, engaging said element and having portions within and without the toy.

10. An animatable toy comprising a hollow opaque object constituting a figurine of a rider on a carrier, an appendage for said figurine, means to mount said appendage on said figurine for movement between a rest position and an operative position, a simulated weapon carried by said appendage, light-producing means interiorly of said object, said last-named means including an opening in the object, said opening being located at the point on the object which the eifective end of the weapon is adjacent when the appendage is in its operative position, means to operate the light-producing means when the appendage is in its operative position, and means to move the appendage and thus the weapon from its rest to its operative position, said lastnamed means comprising a projection on said appendage, an opening in said figurine rotatably receiving said projection, an element on said projection, said element being disposed within the figurine, and means to move said element, said moving means constituting a part of the carrier, engaging said element and having portions within and without the toy, the means to operate the light-producing means being operative from the means to move the appendage.

11. An animatable toy comprising a hollow opaque object constituting a figurine of a rider on a carrier, an appendage for said figurine,

the weapon from its rest to its operative position,

said last-named means comprising a projection on said appendage, an opening in said figurine rotatably receiving said projection, an element on said projection, said element being disposed within the figurine, and means to move said element, said moving means constituting a part of the carrier, engaging said element and having portions within and without the toy, said means to operate the noise-producing means and lightproducing means being operative from the means to move the appendage.

12. An animatable lapel pin comprising a hollow opaque object having a front half and rear cover and constituting a figurine of a rider on a carrier, an appendage for said figurine, means to mount said appendage on said figurine for movement between a rest position and an operative position, a simulated weapon carried by said appendage, light-producing means interiorly of said object, said last-named means including an opening in the object, said opening being located at the point on the object which the effective end of the weapon is adjacent when the appendage is in its operative position, means to operate the light-producing means when the appendage is in its operative position, and means to move the appendage and thus the weapon from its rest to its operative position, said last-namedmeans COmDI'iSiIlg a projection on said appendage, an opening in said figurine rotatably receiving said projection, an element on said projection, said element being disposed within the figurine, means to move said element, said moving means constituting a part of the carrier, engaging said element and having portions within and without the lapel pin, the means to operate the lightproducin means being operative from the means to move the appendage, and means to fix the pin to an object, said means also serving to maintain the cover on the front half.

13. An animatable toy comprising a hollow opaque object having a front half and rear cover and constituting a figurine of a rider on a carrier, an appendage for said figurine, means to mount said appendage on said figurine for movement between a rest position and an operative position, a simulated weapon carried by said appendage, light-producing means interiorly of said object, said last-named means including an opening in the object, said opening being located at the point on the object which the efiective end of the weapon is adjacent when the appending said projection, an element on said projection, said element being disposed within the figurine, means to move said element, said moving means constituting a part of the carrier, engaging said element and having portions within and without the toy, the means to operate the light-producing means being operative from the means to move the appendage, and means to fix the toy to an object, said last-named means comprising a bar extending across and contacting the rear cover and disengageably engaging projections extending from the rear of the front half whereby said last-named means also serves to maintain the cover on the front half, said member having at one end a rearwardly extending reach which terminates in an open loop and having at the other end an elongated element extending up to and through said loop.

JACQUES MARTIAL. LINCOLN L. CIAMPA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,986,803 Frink Jan. 8, 1935 2,521,198 Adler Sept. 5, 1950 2,535,402 Fleishman Dec. 26, 1950 2,580,413 Dietze Jan. 1, 1952 2,588,036 OQuinn Mar. 4, 1952 

